Improvement in gunpowde



PATENT- OF ICE.

LAMMOT DU PONT, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

IMPROVEMENT IN GUNPOWDEFL.

Specification formin part of Letters Patent No. 17,321, dated May 9, 1357- To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAMMOT DU Four, of \Vilmington, in the State of Delaware, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture of Gunpowder for Blasting and other Analogous Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

The nature of my improvement consists in the employment of nitrate of soda as an elenient in the manufacture of gunpowder and in the-glazing of the powder so made, for the purpose of preventing the' deliqueseence of the powder so made.

Gunpowder has been heretofore manufac tured of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulphur, in

v about the proportions of seventy-five per cent. "of saltpeter. twelve and one-half per cent. of

charcoal, and twelve and one-half per cent. of sulphur.

It has long been essayed to obtain some substitute for saltpeter (or nitrate of potash) in this manufacture, on aecount of the limited supply of this material" and its expense. I have discovered that nitrate of soda can be substituted for nitrate of potash in the manufacture of gunpowder with practical success when the powder is glazed in the granular state.

In applying my discovery I mix together the powdered nitrate of soda, powdered sulphur, and powdered charcoal in about the proportion of seventy-two per cent. of nitrate of soda, twelve per cent. ofsulphur, and sixteen of charcoal. After they are well mixed together the powder is granulated in the ordinary way. It is then glazed by being put into vents its deliquescing to any injurious extent in ordinary use. Powder .so manufactured and glazed can be substituted with economy and efliciency for gunpowder made in the ordinary way from saltpeter.

Other substances may be used for glazing besideeblack-lead, or itsiown carbon will sometimes be sufficient.

I do not desire to claim, generally, the glazing of gunpowder or the employment of nitrate of soda in the manufacture of gunpowder, except in combination with the glazing of the powder so made, as aforesaid; but- What I do desire to secure by Letters Patent as my invention is- The manufacture of gunpowder by the use of nitrate of soda and the glazing of the powder so made, in the manner and for the purpose above described.

LAMMOT DU PONT.

Witnesses:

J. H. B. JENKINS, J. E. SHAW. I 

